If there’s one thing that New York City has no shortage of, it’s museums. The city is a host to an incredibly wide variety of museums and cultural institutions covering just about every topic, which attracts tourists and locals alike. The hype is understandable: a museum visit is a perfect addition to any NYC day, providing a relaxing and entertaining interlude from the fast-paced rhythm of the city. This list of museums is the perfect place to start.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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If you only go to one museum in this city, you should go to The Met. This museum is one of the most iconic locations in the city and serves as one its of strongest and longest-standing cultural institutions. With an extensive collection of art, architecture, and artifacts, as well as the costume institute that hosts one of fashion’s most important annual events, it’s not hard to see why New York loves The Met.
- The Museum of Modern Art
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If modern art is more your speed, then The MoMa should be at the very top of your to-do list. This museum offers a comprehensive overview of contemporary art; from Van Gogh and Monet to Warhol’s Pop-Art, and even newer experimental exhibitions.
- American Museum of Natural History
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This museum isn’t only the inspiration for “Night at the Museum,” its one of the best natural history museums that the world has to offer, where you can learn about each aspect of the natural world in a building stretching over four city blocks. Spend the day walking through dinosaur skeletons, taxidermy mammals, and marveling at the life-sized model of a blue whale.
- Guggenheim Museum
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The Guggenheim is host to an amazing collection of art, but the real reason to visit is to witness Frank Lloyd Wright’s great architectural masterpiece. What makes this building unique is its shape: an open circular space that guides its visitors up a spiraling ramp as they move from floor to floor.
- The Tenement Museum
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One of the more often overlooked museums in New York, yet most representative of the city’s rich history, is The Tenement Museum. Unlike its uptown counterparts, this spot is located at a historic tenement house on the Lower East Side and focuses on America’s urban immigrant history. Visit and be inspired by the stories of people who worked hard and made-do in cramped conditions, in attempts to build a new life in this city.
- Museum of the Moving Image
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Located in a former film production studio from the 1920’s, this is the only museum in the country dedicated to the art, technology, and social impact of digital media. This fun spot immerses its visitors in the process of “moving image” making through an impressive array of artifacts, demonstrations, and interactive experiences.
- The Frick Collection
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If you have a taste for opulence, then a visit to The Henry Clay Frick Collection will be like an HGTV Dream Home episode to you. This Fifth Avenue mansion is decked out from head to toe in a gorgeous collection of fine European paintings, furniture, and decorative art.
Whether you’re more classic or modern, film or nature loving, there’s a New York City museum experience out there for you. If you’ve been looking to add more museums into your city outings, this is your sign to get out there and take advantage of all that NYC has to offer!